Sod-cutter



2 Sheets-Sheet 1" (No Model.)

m S Um 00 HE .D mu TI .A m WT w HU .K J m N. m T RH Hm mlS Patented Feb. 12, 1889'.

M WW TWW un/ 6m as a (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

T. HORTON & J. P. WHITEHOUSE. SOD CUTTER, STALK'GUTTER, AND ROLLER.

No. 397,502. I Patented Feb. 12, 1889.

'wue MTC 0:, Zlzamaes Elton aura J05 epll Prg Wh'zefiomse 3 51 How/W1 0 Unirn STATES ATENT rricn.

THOMAS HORTON AND JOSEPH PERCY \VIIITIEIIOIISE, Oi GARRETT, ILLINOIS.

QGD CUTTER, STALK-CUTTER, AND ROLLER' SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 397,502, dated February 12, 1889.

' Application fi ed May 9, 1888. Serial No. 273,282. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAs HORTON and JosEPH PERCY WHITEHoUsE, citizens of the United States, residing at Garrett, in the county of Douglas and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in a (,oinbined sod-flutter, Stalk-(hitter, and Roller, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in combined sod-cutters, stalk-cntters, and rollers. e

The object of the invention is the prod uetion of a device of simple and comparatively inexpmisive construction that will in an efficient and reliable manner cut turf or sod, either before or after the land is broken by a plow; flllliliOiiiiOlQ, the object is to produce a device capable of cutting" the stalks of corn in the field after they are broken down, and, finally, the object is to produce, a device that may be quickly and convenicmtly chan qwl from a cutter to a roller, and vice versa.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying" drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

In the accompanying" drawin formi 1151' part of this specification, and in which like letters of reference designate corresponding parts, Figure l is a perspective view of the improved device, the cutters being in position on the shafts and the device being adapted for cutting turf, sod, or St.tll($ of corn. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1, showing one of the cutter-wheels, and also one of the wheels upon which the deviceruns when the cutters are not in use, and illustrating in dot-ted lines the position of the wheel when the device is in condition for cutting. Fig. i is a detail perspective view of one of the cutter-\vln'-els and the end of a shaft. Fif l is an edge elevation of the same, illustrating the mannerof securing the cutier-blades. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the roller. l ig. ii is a transverse section of same.

Referrin to the accompanying drawings, A designates the frame, consisting of the side pieces, a, the end pieces, a, and the crosspiece (t which is located in the middle of the frame and divides it in halves, and is extended drawing the device.

.l'ournaled in suitable bearings, in. the

end pieces and cross-pieces (1' are two shafts,

13, which are square, except at the ends Z), which are round, in order to enable the shafts B to be journaled in the bearings t. The shafts I3 are adapted to receive on them, on each side of the cross-pieces a a gang of cutter-wheels, l), or a roller, E. The cutter-wheels D consist of the hubs d, the spokes d, and the cutter-blades that are semicircular in form and are secured to the ends of the spokes (7, which are .rabbeted and adapted for their recepthln. The hole in the hub (Z of the cutter-wheels I) is made square in order to conform to the configuration of the shafts I on which they are placed. A gang of cutterwheels, which maybe of any desired number, is provided on each side of the eross-piece a and to retain them in place on the shafts B the end ones of the series are provided with a set screw, which passes through the hubs of the cutter-wheel and takes upon the shafts I thereby securingthe cutter-wheels rigidly to the shafts, and atthe same time preventing the other cutter-wheels moving laterally on the shaft. By this construction each gang of cutters, beinginouni ed in separate shafts, acts independently, which very advantageous in turning the device.

In order to keep the cutter-wheels D from the ground when not in use, and also to regulate the depth of their cutting, each of the ends of the frame A is provided on its under side with a standard, G, having pivotally eon nected thereto an L-shaped lever, I'I,ca|.'r ving on its end 71 a wheel, I. When it is desired to raise the entter-wheels I) from the ground, the lever II is lowered by its handle 71 from a catch, .l, therelrv ln'inging the wheel I to the grou nd and causing the device to rest upon it. To keep the lever II in. this position, a catch, J, is provided on the corner of the frame A, and it engages the lever II and holds it. The

lever II may only partially be lowered, in order to regulate the depth that. the blades of the cuttenwheels enter the ground.

To change the cutter into a land-roller, the device is provided with two drums or rollers,

IOO

E, which consist of two semi cylindrical shells, E and E that are fitted over the cutt er-wheels and secured together by bolts, one drum or roller E being provided for each gang of cutter-wheels. These drums or rollers are constructed of four semicircular head-pieces, e, made of cast-iron or other suitable material and provided on the side of their outer edges or peripheries with grooves 6, into which are set planks or boards 6 which connect the head-pieces, and with them form the roller E. Each head-piece e is provided on its straight edge with a semicircular groove, which, when two head-pieces are put together, form a central opening, e which is of suitable size to fit around the hub d of the cutterwheel at the end of a gang, and the end pieces are securely fastened to the hub d by bolts or the like.

The insides of the rollers E are a little larger in diameter than the cutter-wheels'D, so that when the head-pieces of the rollers are fitted in place on the end hubs of the cutter-wheels, the wheels being of less diameter than the inside of the rollers, the blades will not come i in contact with the roller.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings the construction, op-

eration, and advantages of the invention will be readily understood.

It will be clearly seen that the combined sod-cutters, stalk-cutters, and rollers made in accordance with this invention are of economical and uncomplicated construction, positive and reliable in their operation, an d may readily and conveniently be changed from cutters to rollers, and vice versa.

Having thus fully described the invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination of the frame A, the shafts journaled therein, the series of cutters secured on said shafts, and the drums secured on said shafts and covering the cutters, said drums consisting of the semicircular heads 6, having the grooves e, and the boards 6 having their ends secured in said grooves, as set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS HORTON.

J. PERCY VVHITEHOUSE.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM S. 00X, H. E. CONOVER. 

